Variable kicker for newspaper counting mechanisms



June 15, 1965 E. D. PIERsoN 15T/M 3,189,274

VARIABLE KIGKER FOR NEWSPAPER COUNTING MECHANISMS Filed May l, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS June 15, 1955 E. D. Pl'ERsoN ETAL 3,189,274

VARIABLE KICKER FOR NEWSPAPER COUNTING MECHANISMS .Filed May 1. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y, INVENTORS EDWARD D- PIERSON JAMES C. WRIGHT ATTORNEYS' United States Patent O This invention Irelates to mechanisms for counting newspapers .and the like and, more particularly, to an improved counter that is variable so as to provide a range of possible counts.

Newspapers .are customarily bundled `for distribution to the vendors `and experience has shown that the optimum size bundle should contain approximately three-thousand pages. it is, of course, impossible to hit this optimum bundle size exactly because the size of each edition varies quite widely; therefore, the generally accepted limits in the trade vary between approximately 2400 and 3600 pages per bundle. Obviously, the number of individual papers -required to make up a bundle falling within this range varies considerably from day to day and even from edition to edition in some instances. newspaper is lmuch thicker at the fold, each bundle may have to be further subdivided into halves or even thirds and rearranged within a single bundle so that the folded edges of approximately equal subdivisions face in cpposite directions. lf this is notdone, an unstable bundle will result that is `difficult to stack and handle.

There are two basically different types of press runs, both of which can be produced on the same equipment. The first lof theseV is known in the trade Vas a straight press .and the other as a collect press. Both types result in the complete paper folded in half being fed into circumferential slots in a series of disk-shaped elements known as flyers which rotate continuously and lay the papers down on a conveyor in overlapping relation. These flyers each have a total of five slots arranged in equi-angularly spaced relation around the disk so as to open in Aa direction opposite to their direction of rotation. More than one flyer is used in spaced parallel relation .along a common rotating shaft synchronized with the presses. The folded edge of the paper is automatically inserted in a series of transversely aligned iiyer slots which grasp sam-e at spaced points and carry it around until a substantially horizontal attitude is achieved, whereupon,

it is released and laid on the conveyor passing therebeneath.

ln so far as the present invention is concerned, the basic difference between the straight and collect press runs is that in the former each of the five flyer slots contains a pape-r, whereas, in the latter alternate flyer slots are skipped. In other words, when running straight press two complete Irevolutions of the flyers will lay down a total of ten papers on the conveyor belt and in a collect press only hal-f this number or five will be laid down.

Now, the customary way of .counting newspapers is to- In essence, the kicker is a disk mounted alongside the' flyers that includes on its periphery one fixed cam-actuator and a second retract-able cam-actuator positioned diamet-rtically opposite the fixed one. The kicker is mounted on the same shaft .as the fiyers but is not fastened Also, because a` 3,189,274 Patented June 15, 1965 ICC thereto. External gearing operatively interconnects the fianged hub that carries the kicker with the flyer shaft in such a manner that the kicker turns the same direction .but at one-tenth the speed. Thus, while the kicker is mounted alongside the iiyers on the same shaft, it is free to turn more slowly and the gea-r train is so arranged that the iiyers make ten complete revolutions for each full .revolution of the kicker.

The function of the cam-actuators on the periphery of `the kicker is to engage a pivotally mounted finger and depress same as they pass over it thereby momentarily moving the finger into the path of the overlapped papers progressing along the conveyor. In its actuated or operative position, this finger engages the corner 0f one of the newspapers and holds'it back for a brief interval .until the paper thus engaged turns slightly and is left canted with respect to the other papers which have their exposed folded edges arranged on the conveyor in generally spaced parallel rel-ation to one another normal to,v

their direction of movement. The canted paper is, of course, easily recognizable by the bundler who uses it as a basis `for his bundle coun-t.

In a straight press run using only the fixed camactuator of the kicker it becomes appa-rent that every fiftieth paper will be kicked due to the 10:1 ratio between the .speeds of the' flyers and kicker.' ln other words, the iiyers will have laid down fifty papers during a straight .press run before the single fixed cam-actuator will havey moved into position to engage the finger.

If, on the other hand, both cam-actuators on the kicker are used in a straight press run, a count of every twenty-fifth paper will result. The fixed cam-actuator engages every fiftieth paper .as before; however, the retractable actuator moves into operative position after only two and one-half revolutions of the flyers following engagement of the `xed cam.

The retractable cam-actuator has no function whenk so that no paper is laid down for the finger to engage..

4From the foregoing, it will be apparent that on a straight press run, either s or 25s can be counted and on a collect press run only 25s with conventional equipment thus providing an extremely limited number of counting combinations. -Itis equally apparent that twentyfive papers or multiples thereof will seldom produce a bundle having the desired range lof between 2400 and 3600 pages not to mention the optimum 3000 page bundle. Thefnet result is that the count established by the kicker mechanism is only used as a gui-de and the bundling personnel subtract or add a few papers to the basic twentylive or fifty count to make up bundles of the desired slze. do at the rates at which high-speed presses feed papers to the folder-delivery units of which the kicker forms an integral part.

In accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, on the other hand, these difficulties are eliminated by replacing the conventional kicker with a variable kicker mechanism which offers a much greater range of possible counts and combinations thereof. ln certain respects, it has some of the same salient features of the conventional kicker in that it includes both the fixed cam- .actuator and the retractable cam-.actuator disposed di.

ametrically opposite one another. Also, it contains a planetary gear mechanism which can be locked so thatV This leads to inaccuracies and is also difficult to 3 press runs. Thus, it still retains all the functions of the conventional kicker.

In addition, however, through the use of a novel planetary gear arrangement, it becomes possible to vary the number of Iturns required of the flyers before an actuator moves into operative position even though the ratio of turns of the flyers and kicker remains 10:1 as before. The planetary gear arrangement is used to speed up the actuators relative t the flyer slots in a predetermined synchronous fashion. While it is possible to utilize the planetary gear system of the present invention to arrive at any desired ratio of iiyer to kicker speeds, two have proven to be particularly valuable and suited to newspaper bundling requirements. The tirst of these is the gear ratio by which the actuators make ve complete revolutions to four revolutions of the kicker hub. When this is done the actuator to flyer turn ratio becomes 8:1 rather than the :1 ratio of the flyer shaft and kicker hub. More-specifically, on a straight press run, eight revolutions of the iiyer shaft and flyers will lay down forty papers. During this interval the kicker hub which is still geared down 1:10 with respect to the flyer shaft has made only 8/10 of a revolution; but, the kicker planetary gearing speeds up the actuators relative to the kicker hnbin a ratio of 5,:4 so that an actuator has made a complete revolution kicking every fortieth paper. Then, if both actuators are used on a straight press run, every twentieth paper is kickedf Thus, with the planetary gears locked, we can produce straight press counts of 50 and 25 as with the conventional kicker and, in addition, with the planetary gear train operative, counts of 40 and can be made.

' A more significant advantage appears in collect press runs Ibecause with the planetary gearing operative it is possible to kick both 'ZOs and 107s. In other words, the odd-numbered iiyer slots are empty in a collect press run which explains why the conventional kicker could not kick a paper in the twenty-fifth flyer slot even though it was in a position to do so. By changing the ratio of the kicker to flyer fromV 1:10 to 1:8; however, we can kick 20s on a collect press with the fixed actuator the only one operative and with both operative the retractable kicker will kick the tenth paper because it is in an evennumbered flyer slot.

Accordingly, with 5:4 step-up planetary gearing, it is possible to double the straight press counts possible, i.e. 50s, 25s, 40s and 20s. This same unit will work on collect press and triple the number of possible counts by adding 20s and 10s to 25s.

The other popular gear ratio provides tive revolutions of the actuators' for each three revolutions of the kicker hub, tor, in other words, a lr6 ratio between the actuators and flyers. In accordance with the previous explanation, counts of 50s, 30s 25s and 15s are possible on straight press runs thus, once again, doubling the optional counts over the standard kicker unit. This gear ratio is, however, slightly more limited than the 45:4 one on collect press runs as it is not possible to kick a paper from the odd-numbered fifteenth flyer slot. Even so, the collect press count possibilities are still doubled over the conventional kicker because counts of both and 1X5 are still attainable.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved variable kicker subassembly for use with standard newspaper folding and counting equipment.

A second object is to provide apparatus of the type aforementioned which greatly increases the number and variety of counts possible in conventional folder-delivery units.

Another objective is the provision of a kicker containf of operation in any respect.

the provision of means adapted to insure accurate bundles that more closely approximate those of optimum three-thousand page size.

An additional objective is to provide a mechanism for counting newspapers preparatory to 'bundling that eliminates all guess-work and approximation no matter what the size of the papers being handled.

lFurther objects of the invention herein claimed are to provide an actuating mechanism for newspaper counters that is simple, inexpensive, versatile, compact, rugged, foolproof, accurate and one that can be integrated with standard equipment.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with f the description of the drawings that follows, and in FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevation showing the lock-V ing device of FIGURES 1 and 2 removed and a latch substituted therefor that holds the outer elements of the planetary still while the other elements rotate relative thereto;

FIGURE 4 is URE 3;

.FIGURE 5 is a section taken along line 5 '5 of FIG- URE 3;

l FIGURE 6 is fragmentary section taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 1 showing the details of the locking device that fastens all elements of the planetary together for conjoint rotation;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along line 7 7 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along line 8 8 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary section taken along line 9 9 of FIGURE 1 showing one of the rollers used to permit free relative rotational movement between elements of the planetary; and,

FIGURE 11G is a fragmentary section taken along line M ltl of FIGURE 1.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of the invention, it is important to understand that it comprises a substitute for'an existing part found in the folding and delivery section of the Headliner press'manufactured by the Goss Company of Chicago, Illinois, the latter being a division of Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Inc. These presses are extremely complex mechanical mechanisms that are in widespread,A use throughout the newspaper industry. Even the delivery unit into which the instant kicker mechanism is inserted is quite complicated and no useful purpose would be served by either illustrating or Vdescribing it in detail especially when the fact is considered that the present kicker does not change its basic mode In other words, each and every element of the Goss press operates exactly as it has always operated and performs the same function. Even the kicker units,'i.e. the Goss kicker and the instant kicker, perform the same identical functions in the same way, the differences lying solely in the frequency with which the counting operations are performed and increasing the number of dilferent counts that can be made. These dilferences are brought about through changes in the structure of the kicker and do not involve any modification of the Goss press other than, perhaps, shaving a section taken along line 4 4 of FIG- off a portion of the face of the flange on the kicker' The patent to Crafts (2,085,185) generally illustrates the overall Headliner Press. Reference may be made to booklet entitled Operation and Maintenance of Goss Headliner Press prepared by the Goss Company and copyrighted in 1958 for a detailed description of the Goss press into which the instant variable kicker is incorporated and, specically, to pages 27 andZS along with FIGURE 49.

' Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention and, initially, to FIGURES 1 and 2 for this purpose, the kicker mechanism has been designated broadly by reference numeral and has been shown mounted in place on a flanged hub 12. T hisl hub is essentially the same as the hub on the Goss folderdelivery section of their Headliner press and has been illustrated in full lines because it is the element upon which the kicker is mounted. The standard Goss kicker is thinner and includes no planetary gear mechanism; therefore, the flange is somewhat thicker than that shown. Ordinarily, rather than machine or cast a new mounting hub, the standard Goss hub is removed and shaved down to accommodate the variabley kicker 10.

This hub 12 includes a tubular journal 16 which is freely rotatable relative to the flyer shaft indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 that has been given reference numeral 18. Shaft 18 carries the peripherally-slotted flyers that are mounted thereon for conjoint rotation andl which have been indicated schematically by reference numeral 20 in FIGURE 2. Encircling the journal portion 16 of flanged hub 12 is a gear v22 that is mounted xedly thereon. This gear is intended as being representative of one of several gears in a train operatively interconnecting yer shaft 18 with hub 12 to reduce the speed of the latter to `one-tenth that of said liyer shaft. Once again, it must be emphasized that the flyer shaft 18, flyer 20, gear 22 and even mounting hub 12 in essentially the same form are lall parts of the existing Goss folder-delivery unit that forms but a part of their Headliner press. Furthermore, these elements cooperate with one another in the same way to produce the same result.

Now, the portion of this assembly with which the instant application is concerned is the variable kicker 10 that bolts directly to the ange 14 of the mounting hub 12 in much the same way as the standard Goss kicker. Specifically, it is the mounting plate 23 of the inner element 24 of the planetary assembly that is fastened by means of bolts 25 to the face of ange 14. Mounting plate 23 comprises essentially a circulardisk having a central opening therein bordered by a tubular annulus 26 that projects from the exposed face opposite that which lays against the iiange 14 of the mounting hub 12. The central opening 28 of element 23 is substantially larger than that of the journal 16 and, therefore, annulus 26 turns free of the flyer shaft.

Y The exterior cylindrical surface of annulus 26 on the mounting plate 23 provides a support for a sleeve bearing 30 upon which the intermediate system of the planetary turns and which has been indicated in a general way by reference numeral 32.

The inner planetary element 24 comprises a sun gear that is bolted to the face of mounting plate 23. In the particular embodiment illustrated, interlocking annular shoulders 34 are provided on the mating faces of the sun gear and its mounting plate to spread out the loads that would kotherwise be concentrated and localized at the bolt fasteners 36. Similar interlocking annular shoulders 38 have been provided along the peripheral edge of flange 14 on the mounting hub 12 and the mating face of inner planetary element mounting plate 23.

The intermediate element 32 of the planetary assembly includes several elements, among which are the circular disk-shaped mounting plate or spider 40 which has an inwardly-extending tubular annulus 42 projecting inwardly therefrom that is journalled for rotation on sleeve bearing 30. Thus, plate 40 is free to rotate relative to sun gear 24 and the mount 23.

Spider 40 carries on its inside face, stub shafts 43 and similar stub shafts 44 upon which are mounted for rotation the double spur gear or so-called change gears 46 and the reversing gears 48. The shafts 43 are, in the particular form shown, located diametrically opposite one another and only two are necessary because the primary support for the intermediate gear system 32 of the planetary assembly is derived through bearings Si) and the annulus 42 of the spider 40 rather than the spur gears 46 and reversing gears 48. The change gears 46 are mounted on reduced sections 50 of shafts 43 which provide a shoulder 52 that keeps the gear from rubbing against spider 40. The smaller of the toothed sections 54 of the gear 45 is located nearest mounting plate 23 and in position to mesh with sun gear 24 thus forming a driving connection therebetween. The larger of the toothed sections 56 of gear 46 turns within the space left between the sun gear 24 and the inside of spider 40.

Stub shafts 44 carry for rotation thereon a reversing pinion 48 that meshes with the larger toothed section 5'6 of change gear 46 and also internal gear 58 as can best be seen in FIGURES 1 and 10. It is, of course, important that the actuators 60 and 62 carried by the outer element 64 of the planetary assembly 32 turn in the same direction as flyer shaft 18. By examining FIGURE 1, however, it can be seen that if yer shaft 18 and associated elements turn the sun gear counter-clockwise, internal gear 58 would turn clockwise if spur gear 54 were connected directly between the sun and internal gears. In the form shown, the inclusion of reversing pinion 48 between the change and internal gears accomplishes the desired end of making the internal gear turn the same direction as shaft 18.

Now, as has already been explained briefly, the Goss hub 12 is already geared down 10:1 with respect to the flyer shaft 18 which means that the Goss kicker unit will kick either 50s or 25s on a straight press run or 25s on collect press. If, however, we can speed up the rotation of the outer element 64 of the planetary assemblyso that it makes five full revolutions for each four revolutions of the Goss hub 12, it will become possible to kick 40s and 20s on straight press and 20s and 10s on collect press in addition to the above-mentioned standard counts which are accomplished by locking the elements of the planetary together in a manner to be described presently. If, therefore, we use a tooth sun gear 36 meshing with a 20 tooth spur gear 54, we will produce ve full revolutions of spur gear 56 for each complete revolution of the sun gear. Then, if spur 56 has 40 teeth to mesh with 25 teeth on the reversing pinion, it can be seen that pinion 48 will make eight complete revolutions for each full turn of the sun gear. Finally, 'oy making internal gear 58 with 160 teeth, it will turn one and one-fourth revolutions during eight revolutions of the reversing pinion or, in other words, live revolutions for each four revolutions cf the Goss hub. Thus, when thel flyer shaft 18 has made eight revolutions on straight press and has laid down 8 5=40 papers due to the five paper-receiving slots in each flyer, a single actuator 62 will be in position to kick the 40th paper and both actuators could kick the 20th and 40th papers. Similarly, on collect press, a single actuator would kick the 20th paper while both would kick the 20th and 10th.

Another convenient gear arrangement is to reduce the number of teeth on the small section of change gear from 20 to 15 while all the remaining gears of the planetary stay the same. When this is done, the change gear will make 62/3 revolutions for each revolution of the sun gear instead -of iive. Then, instead of eight revolutions, the reversing pinion will make 102/3 revolutions -for each revolution of the sun gears. A simple calculation will show that the internal gear vvill `then make 12/3 revolutions for each revolution of the sun gear making straight press counts of 30 and 15 possible in addition to the standard counts of 50 and 25. Also, this arrangement adds a collect press count of to the standard 25 count.

Next, with reference to ElGURES 2, 9 and l0, the details of the assembly which compnises the outer element of the planetary'assembly will be set forth along with the means used to mount same on the inner element for relative rotational movement. The outer element of the planetary has been indicated in a general way by numeral 66 and will be seen to consist of several separate elements fastened together by bolts o3. The first lof these is ring 64 which at angularly spaced points around its inner periphery carries rollers 75l (FIGURE 9) that are journalled for rotation within roller cavities 72 provided for this purpose within the wall. These rollers support ring 164 for relative rolling engagement along the outer peripheral edge of the mounting plate 23 that constitutes the support for sun gear 2d ofthe inner planetary elements. Ring 6d includes inwardly extending radial flange 74 that rides behind plate Z3 and prevents the rollers from moving forwardly olf the edge of said plate. Next comes the internal gear 58, which fastens to the inside of ring 6d with an interlocking tongue and groove arrangement 75 that prevents relative radial movement therebetween. A second or front ring elementV 78'completes the outer planetary assembly 66. This front ring '78 ymakes an interlocking tongue and groove connection Sil with the front face of the internal gear in much the sarne manner as with rear ring 64. Front ring 7S also includes an inwardly-extending radial flange 82 that fits into a `corresponding annular groove 84 in t-he front of plate or spider dil. Bolts 68 hold the elements 64, 5S and '78 of the outer planetary element in assembled relation and flanges 74 and 82 of the rear and front ring elements cooperate to hold the spider 40 and associated gears de and d8 in meshed engagement with the internal and sun gears. Thus, it will be seen that both the intermediate and outer elements of the planetary system are supported by the -inner element thereof and the.

latter is, in turn, supported by the Goss hub 12.

Once again with brief reference to FlGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the actuators ell and 62 are mounted on the inside of rear ring 64 by means of bolts do. One of these actuators, namely, actuator 62 is permanently extended while the other'one 60 is retractable due to the inclusion of radial slot 38 seen in FIGURE 2. Thus, the inclined cam surface Ml of actuator o2 that projects radi- .ally from the outer periphery of the kicker is always eX- tended into a position Where it can Contact the roller 9'?. of rocker arm 94 that, upon actuation, moves into the path of the overlapped newspapers moving along therebeneath on the conveyor belt, engages a corner o-f a selected paper and turns it `out of line to provide a visible count. The retractable actuator 6u, on the other hand, can be deactivated at the election of the operator so as to miss the rocker arm completely. These two actuators are located diarnetrically opposite one another and perform the exact same function of the actuators on the standard Goss kicker. Y

No attempt has been made to show the r-ocker arm l94 in detail as this is a part of the Goss folder-delivery unit that remains unchanged as to both function anddesign. For present purposes it should sullice to note that the roller 92 at its upper end is springabiased into continual contac-t with the periphery of the kicker and in the path of both actuators. The rocker arm is mounted for rockable motion on a shaft 96 that passes along in front ofthe kicker as Well as the flyers :29. This shaft 96 is a part of the Goss unit and will be seen presently to penforrn another function, namely, that of providing a conveniently-locatedV element for fastening the spider titl so that it cannot rotate.

The end of rocker anm 94 opposite the roller is provided with a hnger 98 that moves into the path of the papers and engages the corner of selected ones when in actuated position. While rocker arm 94 has been shown more or less schematically, its mode of operation upon actuation by the kicker becomes readily apparent.

Now, it should be apparent that, if through the use of the planetary arrangement all we have done is to 'substitute It0-2() or 30-'15 'counts for the standard 50-25 count, nothing of value has been accomplished. Therefore, it is impor-tant that the Variable kicker ofthe present invention be so operable as to produce the standard counts in addition to tho-se attainable by reason of the planetary. This is accompli-shed quite easily by locking the intermediate and outer elements of the planetary system together in a manner to prevent relative rotation therebetween as will now be described in detail vin connection with FlG- URES 1, 6, 7 and -8. The exposed face of spider dll isl provided with a generally rectangular recess that opens onto the periphery thereof and in one relative rotational position is aligned with a similar recess 162 in the front face of ring 73. kA shoe :1611 is lattached within recess '101i of they spider by bolts 136 that come through from the back or inside. This shoe projects forwardly of the face of the spider and includes' a pair of parallel flanges 1G18 along its side edges that cooperate /with the exposed face of the spider to define parallel grooves 111i.

When the occasion requires that the planetary assembly be locked and rendered inoperative to produce `the standard 50-25 counts, a lock 112 is slipped in place over the shoe and attached .thereto by means of knurled set screw 114 which screws into the radially-extending threaded socket 116 in the shoe. This lock element has a generally channelshaped cross-section and includes inturned flanges 113 that slip into the grooves ,110 alongside the shoe. The outer extremity of the lock element has a rectangular cross-section that is adapted to fit into the recess 192 in the front ring 7S when the former is properly aligned With the corresponding recess 100 in the spider.

With the intermediate and outer elements of the planetary locked together as shown in FIGURE l, they, of cou-rse, cannot turn relative to one another. The intermediate element is, however, locked to the inner element due to the meshed engagement between spur gear d6 and sun gear Z4. The sun gear is, in turn, rotarially locked yto .the hub '12 through face plate 23 and bolts 25 and 36.

Thus, with lock L12V in place, the unit operates as a standard Goss kicker capable of counting 50s and 25s on straight press runs and 25s on collect press runs.

' Finally, with reference to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the manner of using the variable kicker of the present invention with the planetary system operative will now be described in detail. Lock 112 is, of course, removed to free the planetary and a second lock 120 is substituted therefore that prevent-s only the intermediate element of the planetary from turning by fastening same to a Xed support such as rocker arm shaft 96. Mounting shoe 104 is still used and a plate 122 whose inside surface is formed as was lock 194 to accept the shoe is slipped thereover. This plate,'in the particlular form shown, is more-or less sector-shaped with its outside edge 124 projecting beyond the periphery of ring 78. Adjacent this projecting edge is provided a series of spaced apertures 126 that receive the bolts 128 which Vfasten the latch element 130 thereto in selected rotarial positions. This selectivity is necessary to effect proper timing or synchronization of the actuators relative to the yer slots so that the rocker arm is rocked at the instant the corner of a paper passes therebeneath. ,It is, course, possible for the intermediate element of the planetary to occupy an infinite variety of rotarial positions relative to the outer and inner elements thereof, in some of which the actuators would fail to engage the corner of a paper. With the adjustment, however, proper synchronization can be realized and once achieved, it will remain.

The latch element comprises a plate 132 having a sideopening notch 134 therein adapted to receive the rocker arm shaft 9o as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3. Plate 132 carries asleeve 136 that opens onto the notch and maaar/a carries a retractable lock pin 138 adapted to move part way across the entry to the notch thereby fastening the shaft therein.

In conclusion it should be mentioned that any number of other Ways could be found to lock the spider against rotation and the one above-described has been shown merely because it is extremely simple and convenient a way of accomplishing this end. Shaft '9o is already on the Goss machine extending across in front of the kicker and its location is, therefore, ideally suited to the need for fastening the spider.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features or the variable kicker of the present invention, it will be seen that the many worthwhile objectives for which it was developed have been achieved. Although but a single specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, we realize that certain changes and modilications may well occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is our intention that the scope of protection aiforded hereby shall be limited only in so far as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a counting mechanism of the type having a shaft-mounted rocker arm adapted upon actuation to engage and misalign selected newspapers passing therebeneath on a conveyor that have been laid thereon in overlapping aligned relation by peripherally-slotted iiyers mounted on a iiyer shaft that also carries a hanged-hub operatively connected thereto for rotation at reduced speed, the improved means for actuating the rocker arm at diierent predetermined intervals which comprises: inner planetary element means mountable directly on the iianged hub of the counting mechanism for conjoint rotation therewith, said inner means including gear means mounted coaxially with respect to the yer shaft; intermediate planetary element means mounted for coaxial rotation relative to the inner planetary element means, said intermediate means including a spider, at least one pinion mounted on the spider for rotation therewith but relative thereto in meshed engagement with the gear means of the inner planetary element means, and a reversing gear mounted on the spider for rotation therewith but relative thereto in meshed enga-gement with each pinion independent ot the gear means of the inner planetary element means; outer planetary element means mounted for coaxial rotation relative to both the inner and intermediate assembly wherein said outer planetary element means including gear means in meshed operative engagement with the reversing gear of the intermediate planetary element means, said inner, intermediate and outer planetary element means cooperating to provide a planetary assembly wherein said outer planetary element means turns the same direction as said inner planetary element means when the spider of said intermediate planetary element means is held against rotation, and the gears of said planetary assembly cooperating to drive the outer planetary element means thereof at a different speed than the inner planetary element means is driven by the flanged-hub when the spider of the intermediate planetary element means is secured against rotation; and, fixed cam means mounted on the periphery of the outer planetary element means for rotation therewith in a circular path adapted to engage the rocker arm of the counting mechanism, said cam means being adapted upon contact with said rocker arm to momentarily actuate same causing the latter to move into operative position for engagement with a corner of a newspaper.

2. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 1 in which a second retractable cam means is mounted on the periphery of the outer planetary element means diametrically opposite the iixed cam means, and said retractable cam means being located to follow the same circular arc as the ixed cam means, and

it) said retractable cam means being operative in extended position to contact the rocker arm and actuate same in the same manner as the fixed cam means thereby doubling the number of rocker arm actuations during each revolution of the planetary assembly.

The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in ciaim 1 which includes lock means detachably connectable between two of the three planetary element means adaptable in locked position to prevent relative rotational movement between all three of said planetary element means whereby the entire planetary assembly turns as a unit with the flanged hub thus eliminating the speed differential between said anged hub and cam means at the election of the operator.

fi. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 1 which includes a stationary lock means detachably connectable between the spider of the intermediate planetary element means and a fixed support, said stationary locking means in locked position cooperating with the intermediate planetary element means to drive the outer planetary element means at a ixed differential speed relative to that at which the inner planetary element means is driven by the angehub of the counting mechanism.

5. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 1 in which the inner planetary element means includes a face plate fastenable to the flanged hub, a bearing supporting collar projecting coaxially from the face plate, and a sleeve bearing mounted on the bearing-supporting collar; and in which the spider of the intermediate planetary element means include a coaxial tubular projection journalled for rotation on the sleeve bearing of the inner planetary element means.

e. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 1 in which the pinion gear of the intermediate planetary element means comprises a change gear having one set of teeth meshing with the gear means of the inner planetary element means and the other set ot teeth meshing with the reversing gear.

'L The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 1 in which: the inner planetary element means includes a circular face plate fastenable to the hanged hub and projecting beyond the periphery thereof; the spider of the intermediate planetary element means comprises a circular disk arranged in axiallyspaced face-to-tace relation with respect to the face plate of the inner planetary element means; and in which, the outer planetary element means includes a ring assembly supporting the gear means therein and having inturned peripheral flanges adapted to ride on the outside of said face plate and spider holding the planetary assembly in assembled relation.

il. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 3 in which the lock means comprises a block recessed into the exposed faces of the intermediate and outer planetary element means in position to bridge same.

9. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 4 in which the second lock means comprises an arm having one end attachable to the spider and clamp means on the other end adapted for releasable connection to the rocker arm shaft.

lil. The improved means for actuating the rocker arm as set forth in claim 9 in which the clamp means on the end of the arm is circumferentially adjustable to provide for synchronization of the cam means with the flyers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/94 Mann et al. 74-750 6/ 39 Foster 9?:-932l LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COUNTING MECHANISM OF THE TYPE HAVING A SHAFT-MOUNTED ROCKER ARM ADAPTED UPON ACTUATION TO ENGAGE AND MISALIGN SELECTED NEWSPAPERS PASSING THEREBENEATH ON A CONVEYOR THAT HAVE BEEN LAID THEREON IN OVERLAPPING ALIGNED RELATION BY PERIPHERALLY-SLOTTED FLYERS MOUNTED ON A FLYER SHAFT THAT ALSO CARRIES A FLANGED-HUB OPERATIVELY CONNECTED THERETO FOR ROTATION AT REDUCED SPEED, THE IMPROVED MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE ROCKER ARM AT DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS WHICH COMPRISES: INNER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS MOUNTABLE DIRECTLY ON THE FLANGED HUB OF THE COUNTING MECHANISM FOR CONJOINT ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID INNER MEANS INCLUDING GEAR MEANS MOUNTED COAXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE FLYER SHAFT; INTERMEDIATE PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS MOUNTED FOR COAXIAL ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE INNER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS, SAID INTERMEDIATE MEANS INCLUDING A SPIDER, AT LEAST ONE PINION MOUNTED ON THE SPIDER FOR ROTATION THEREWITH BUT RELATIVE THERETO MESHED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GEAR MEANS OF THE INNER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS, AND A REVERSING GEAR MOUNTED ON THE SPIDER FOR ROTATION THEREWITH BUT RELATIVE THERETO IN MESHED ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH PINION INDEPENDENT OF THE GEAR MEANS OF THE INNER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS; OUTER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS MOUNTED FOR COAXIAL ROTATION RELATIVE TO BOTH THE INNER AND INTERMEDIATE ASSEMBLY WHEREIN SAID OUTER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS INCLUDING GEAR MEANS IN MESHED OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REVERSING GEAR OF THE INTERMEDIATE PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS, SAID INNER, INTERMEDIATE AND OUTER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS COOPERATING TO PROVIDE A PLANETARY ASSEMBLY WHEREIN SAID OUTER PLANETARY ELEMENT MEANS TURNS THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID INNER PLANETARY ELEMENT 